The Catcher in the RyeChapters 18-21

  1. “Every time you mention some guy that’s strictly…very mean, or very conceited and all- and when you mention it to the girl, she’ll tell you he has an inferiority complex.” Why would “the girl” say he has an inferiority complex? Is it even possible to be conceited and have an inferiority complex or is it simply a difference in the male/female perspective? Explain in detail.
  1. Holden claims he has only three people in his address book – Jane, Mr. Antolini, and his father’s office number. He says he forgets to put anyone else in his address book. Given what you know about Holden thus far, do you think this is really the case or is there a deeper, more symbolic explanation of why there isn’t anyone else listed in his address book? Explain.
  1. Holden mentions that Radio City produces a “Christmas thing” every year. He says there are angels carrying crucifixes, and they sing “Come All Ye Faithful.” Holden goes on to state, “It’s supposed to be religious as hell, I know, and very pretty and all, but I can’t see anything religious or pretty, for God’s sake, about a bunch of actors carrying crucifixes all over the state.” Despite this being a “religious” thing, why does Holden not see religion in it?
  1. Why does Holden claim that the one thing about the show Jesus would like is the guy in the orchestra who played the kettle drums?
  1. Why does Holden view the movie about the “English guy, Alec something” as phony? Why does the woman in the audience crying get to him more than anything else? Why do you think Holden views people who cry at movies to be mean at heart?
  1. Holden says that he thinks DB hated the army more than the war itself. Why do you think this might be the case?
  1. According to Holden, what is so bad about war? What does he base his opinion on?
  1. Who is Carl Luce, and why do you suppose Holden wanted to meet him at the bar?
  1. Carl Luce gets so irritated through the course of his conversation with Holden that he finally asks, “When in the hell are you going to grow up?” How does Holden show his immaturity in this interaction?
  1. Why do you think Holden asks Carl if his father every psychoanalyzed him?
  1. Why does Holden get so upset over a broken record? Rather than throwing the pieces away, why do you think he holds on to them?
  1. Why do you think Holden believes that being dumped in the river when he dies would be preferable to being buried in a cemetery? Analyze what bothers Holden about Allie being buried in a cemetery.
  1. Where does this concern for Phoebe if Holden should die come from? Why not be concerned for his parents?
  1. “All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.” Agree or Disagree and explain.
  1. Describe how Holden feels about being back inside his family’s apartment with Phoebe. Why do you think he feels this way? Analyze what this demonstrates about his character

Extending Beyond the Text:

Allie asked DB who the best war poet was, Rupert Brooke or Emily Dickinson. Research both by locating a war poem written by each one. Compare and Contrast the two poems, and then answer the question: Who is the BEST war poet and why?